Rights and Responsibilities When You Move

The average person moves their residence 11 times in their lifetime, about every four to five years. But the first time is always the most difficult of course. People that are moving for the first time always underestimate the amount of work involved, it is probably one of the biggest mistakes.Moving for the First Time

Wouldn't be nice to reduce the moving costs and at the same time make money? You can do this by selling your unwanted items as soon as you start thinking about moving. Here are some tips on how to make money selling the clutter from your home.Make Money by Selling Your Unwanted Items

Unloading and unpacking furniture and boxes in an efficient way will cut down on time and help you to get settled in more quickly. The most important thing that you need to remember is to stay organized and not get stressed out.Unloading and Unpacking a Moving Truck

Type in Your Zip Code and Select Move Date

To Find Available Movers and Helpers Nationwide

Know Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move

Next to packing, the most stressful part about moving is when you have to hire a moving company. Everyone has their own moving horror stories to tell and sometimes people tend to choose "a good friend with a pickup truck" to move their items just to avoid having to deal with professional movers. But choosing a professional moving company should not be feared, especially now that there is a booklet available to assist consumers with their dealings with their prospective moving companies.

The booklet is entitled "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" and it is issued by The Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration (FMCSA). It features pertinent information that consumers can utilize to make their move a stress-free one. According to federal law, it is mandatory that a moving company representative distributes the publication to every consumer that they deal with.

The booklet is filled with a lot of information that would protect both the consumer as well as the moving company. Some of the topics in the booklet covered include knowing what consumers should expect from movers in terms of documents that must be provided. What the consumer can request from their mover is also discussed in the publication.

One of the law states that movers should give written and binding estimates. Another law advises that it is the consumers' right to request that their shipment is re-weighed. Also for your own good, the booklet also warns consumers against making contractual arrangements with the household goods broker and not the actual mover. The law says that a broker is not only authorized to locate an authorized mover, but he must also provide transportation. In addition, the broker does not have authority to provide the consumer with estimates on the mover's behalf since the broker's estimate may not be binding.

The law also says the following:

You may request from your mover the availability of guaranteed pickup and delivery dates.

You have the right to be present each time your shipment is weighed.

If you agree to move under a non-binding estimate, you should confirm with your mover in writing the method of payment at delivery as cash, certified check, money order, cashier's check, or credit card.

If your mover provides you (or someone representing you) with any partially complete document for your signature, you should verify the document is as complete as possible before signing it. Make sure the document contains all relevant shipping information, except the actual shipment weight and any other information necessary to determine the final charges for all services performed.

For those who choose to allow the moving company to relocate them under after receiving a non-binding estimate, they law says that this should be confirmed with the mover in writing. In addition, both parties must also establish the method of payment at delivery in terms of if cash, certified or cashier's check, money order or credit card would be paid.

Finally, before choosing a mover, it would be wise to compare at least three moving companies before you make a decision.